Keeping kids healthy and happy is a challenging balancing act. It means making tough decisions about their diet, organizing after-school activities, and keeping tabs on their school assignments. Keeping them healthy also means tackling more unusual challenges like how to clean kids’ ears. It’s an unpleasant task for most adults, let alone children! Many parents will remember the pain of having their own ears cleaned as a kid. However, failing to tackle this issue head-on could lead to some serious problems later in life. Left unchecked, excess earwax can even lead to the growth of bacteria or fungus inside the ear canal. Read on to learn how to clean your child’s ears safely and appropriately at home using simple supplies and techniques.
What Is Earwax?
Earwax, or “cerumen” as it’s technically known, is produced by glands inside the ear canal. Its job is to protect the skin inside the ear and prevent infections by trapping and holding back dirt, dust, and other small particles. Earwax also plays a role in our hearing. Its texture and consistency help to channel and direct sound waves into the ear canal so that they can be translated into vibrations and signals for the brain. How often your child produces earwax will depend on things like his diet and genetics. However, most kids will produce between three and four grams of earwax each week.
Why Is Earwax Important?
As you can see, earwax is an essential part of our anatomy. Without it, we would be at risk of ear infections and damage to our hearing. In terms of how to clean kids’ ears, the key is to remove the excess wax while leaving the beneficial amount inside your child’s ears. Excessive earwax can be a problem, especially if it goes unnoticed. In kids, this usually occurs because of an underdeveloped ear canal.
How To Clean Kids’ Ears Without Hurting Them
The key to cleaning kids’ ears without hurting them is to follow a few simple steps. This will also help to reduce the risk of an ear infection and injury while you’re at it! First, make sure your child is old enough and mature enough to understand what you’re doing and why. It’s important to build trust and establish a positive relationship with the process from the beginning. Once you’re ready to get started, make sure to follow these steps: – Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before beginning. – Use a clean and new cotton swab for each ear. – Avoid the temptation to “scrape” the earwax from the ear. – Always pull the ear gently downwards to straighten the ear canal before cleaning. – Clean the outside of the ear with a cloth or paper towel. – Be gentle and patient with your child.
How To Clean Kids’ Ears
The first step is to clean the outside of your child’s ears with a warm cloth. This will relax and soften the skin, making it easier to remove any excess wax. Gently pull the earlobe downwards to straighten the ear canal and make it easier to clean. Then use the cotton swab to carefully and slowly remove any excess wax from the inside of the ear. The goal is to remove the earwax without removing too much of it. Make sure to go slowly, particularly if you’re using a wooden ear bud or q-tip. It’s also important to bend the earlobe away from the ear as you work. This will reduce the risk of puncturing your child’s ear drum.
Tips For Ear Wax Removal With Kids
There are a few things you can do to make the process easier for both you and your kids, such as: – Talking to your child about the importance of earwax, and why it needs to stay inside the ear canal. – Explaining the process and the tools that will be used. – Ensuring the room is warm, quiet, and well-lit. – Letting your child rest with their head tipped downwards so they can avoid getting earwax in their eyes. – Having plenty of tissues and warm water on hand to clean up any mess. Finally, it’s important to remember that earwax isn’t something that should be removed every day. In fact, it’s best to clean your child’s ears no more than once a month.
Conclusion
Earwax is an important part of our anatomy and helps to clean and protect the inside of our ears. While it’s important to remove excess earwax, it’s also vital to avoid removing too much of it. There are many ways to clean kids’ ears, but remember that the best method is the gentlest one. Be careful when removing earwax, and always follow these simple steps to protect your child’s hearing and health. It’s also important to remember that earwax isn’t something that should be removed every day. In fact, it’s best to clean your child’s ears no more than once a month.